Modern spellings for classic names?

Ruby Grace is perfect, classic without being boring.

You're a tad late to the party, Sarah!

With lots of names the variants are as common as the originals

Catherine Kathryn
Jane Jayne
Ann Anne
Cathy Kathy
Neve Niamh
Maia Maya
Rachel Rachael
Courtney Courteney
Mairi Mhairi
Sarah Sara
Gillian Jillian
Rebecca Rebekah
Una Oonagh
Orla Orlaith
Loren Lauren
Nicola Nichola
Geri Jerry
Tamsin Tasmin
Ashley Ashleigh

Could you gonwith a name that has a number of foreign accepted spelling variants. For example, I am British, my husband is danish and we live in Switzerland so we wanted a name that works in all three. We chose Fredrik (actually the Swedish spelling) because the English version has CK at the end which is rarely used in Germanic languages. Additionally we didn’t particularly want the middle ‘e’ sound. In any case it is pronounced differently in English and danish (the d is said completely differently) but that’s fine, all the other words in each language are different too and to be honest he’s mostly known as Freddy!

Our kids have to live through multiple phases and fashions. If it's a question in the gut just don't do it. Nicknames can be created - don't express your own individuality through their name. Our kids aren't fashion accessories. Give them something that works.

I had an normal name with a ridiculous spelling, one deed poll later it is the usual spelling.

I also think the 'ie' endings make the names look like shortened versions of other names eg 'Lilie' would make me wonder if it was short for Lilian.

'Modern spellings', if that's what you want to call it, of classic names is downright tacky.

To really 'modernise' it why not prefix the name with a 'hashtag' or the Mumsy 'at sign'?

Everyone here is so worried about a kid having to say, my names Gracie, with an ‘ie’
Like it’s the worst thing your kid could have to deal with in their lives, I wouldn’t worry about it.

And the ‘why change a classic’ / ‘no yoonique names’ brigades - yeah why change anything at all, perhaps we could just have a list of 10 appropriate names and we’ll all just choose from them, keep things ‘proper’

Gracie isn’t my preference, but just pick what you like OP, someone’s always going to have an opinion on it.

My name is spelled in an alternative way - Rachael instead of Rachel - and I love it. I think it looks nicer (though I don't like the name in general). I do very often have to tell people it's "-ael", not "-el" (or "Racheal" which I often get when people know there's an 'a' in there somewhere and just guess haha), but I don't mind - I think it's worth it.

My kids have unusual names with more normal/well known nicknames if that is an option for you. There are lots of lovely, longer, more unusual names that you could use the nickname Lily/Lillie for.

Really dislike Rubies.

How about Zadie? It has the curtsey ie ending of Lillie, Ruby, Gracie but is a bit more unusual

If my parents had named me Angee I would have changed my name by deed poll by now.

My cousin changed her name from a ridiculous name / spelling that her parents inflicted on her.

@cushioncovers this! I'm not British and my first name is spelt with a final "a" while the British version has an "e". When pregnant, I went for the first trimester blood test (where they check HIV etc) and was called back for exactly that reason, but they only told me once there and not on the phone. I spent 5 days and nights agonising, crying and expecting some very bad news.

I then gave my son a solid, non-top-100 classical British name and didn't realise that an American version of that exists with a slightly different spelling and now I'm back to square one with him.
Argh!

What is a 'unique' name anyway?
'Unique' means one of a kind - therefore a name which has never been used before, ever. You would have to make one up, OP.

As others have pointed out, Lillie is an old version, and while unusual, is usable. Alyce (and Alys), like Edythe and Elinor, are older versions of the name and I think it's fine to use them. People are quick to take exception to anything but the most popular modern spelling as this site shows, so just do it with your eyes open. Gracie is a variation on Grace that has been around as long as Grace has, so nothing new there. I'm not keen on Rubie though.

Really twee and grating, sorry!

I do like how the name Violette looks with the French spelling but I thought the gain of me thinking it looks nice isn't outweighed by the hassle it could cause my daughter.
But the French way would be pronounced Vee-o-let and the English way would be Vy-o-ket.

How ridiculous 🤣

How about liliana nn lili?

I agree with with pp as seeing Rubie as Rub-ee

While there are common names which have two or more spellings, people are aware of these. So if you say "Claire" the person will likely ask you if it's with an i or not. Whereas if you say Lily then most people only know that spelling.

I do like how the name Violette looks with the French spelling but I thought the gain of me thinking it looks nice isn't outweighed by the hassle it could cause my daughter.

If you want a bit different you could go with Liliana nn Lily .

Iris is another lovely flower name that is not unusual , but less used.